Boy kills classmate over joke

A bad joke triggered the stabbing to death of a 12-year-old grade six pupil by his classmate in Pasig City Tuesday.

The victim, Ramices Tongco, was stabbed in the left armpit and the knife pierced his heart. He died on the way to the Pasig City General hospital.

The 13-year-old suspect was surrendered by his mother to Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, hours after the incident. He was whisked to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The STAR withheld his identity, he being a minor.

Initial investigation showed that the victim often made fun of the suspect’s big eyes even during classes but the latter ignored him.

The last straw came at about 1 p.m. Tuesday when the victim teased him again while they were coming out of their classroom at the San Lorenzo Elementary School in Barangay Manggahan.

No longer able to control himself, the suspect took out a steak knife from his lunch box and stabbed Tongco in the armpit. The incident was witnessed by their horrified classmates.

Sosito said school officials took the victim to the nearest hospital but the boy died while on the way.

The suspect fled after the incident but was surrendered by his mother upon her learning of the incident. – Non Alquitran